Richard J. Thrapp

Undergraduate School
Bachelor of Arts, DePauw University
Graduated in 1980

Law School
Indiana University School of Law
Graduated in 1983

Professional Experience:
As a corporate lawyer, Richard Thrapp counsels clients on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and financings, and on corporate governance matters (including board and committee structures, fiduciary duties, indemnity, conflicts of interest and codes of conduct).

Thrapp counsels middle market companies, in some cases as outside general counsel, including experience with private family-owned and other closely-held businesses. He was the lead transaction counsel on the $1.9 billion acquisition by Citizens Energy Group of the City of Indianapolis water and wastewater systems.

His transactional experience includes leveraged ESOPs and restructurings. Thrapp also serves as corporate or general counsel to manufacturing and distribution companies, major foundations, media and entertainment companies, accounting firms and law firms, among others. He advises on relationships and agreements between business owners/partners, including operating agreements and buy-sell agreements, and resolution of disputes that may arise in these relationships. Thrapp is also a member of the Firm's Agricultural Law Initiative.

Thrapp was appointed by the governor to serve on the Indiana Business Law Survey Commission and in 2006 was elected as its chairman. He was a member of the drafting committee for Indiana's Limited Liability Company Act and served on the drafting committee for the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act. He also assisted in the drafting of the Indiana Business Corporation Law in 1986. Thrapp for a number of years taught corporate law for the Indiana Bar Review Course sponsored by the Indianapolis Bar Association.

Thrapp is the author of numerous articles and has spoken on topics such as: buying and selling of a business; risk allocation in acquisitions and divestitures; buy-sell agreements; growth (acquisitions) and changing business; Indiana limited liability companies; Indiana nonprofit corporation law; uniform commercial code; raising equity capital; succession planning; and Indiana business corporation law.

Thrapp was born in Auburn, Ind., grew up in Kendallville, Ind., and graduated from DePauw University where he received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1980. He obtained his juris doctorate from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, where he graduated magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, in 1983.

Thrapp joined Ice Miller in 1983 after graduating from law school. He is admitted to practice in the state of Indiana.

Professional Associations:
Chair, Indiana Corporate Law Survey Commission
Member, Indianapolis Bar Association
Member, Indiana State Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association

Awards and Recognitions:
The Best Lawyers In America, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2007-2011
Chambers USA 2007-2011, Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions
Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation
Indiana Super Lawyer, 2005-2011

Community Involvement:
Served on the task force for Limited Liability Companies and on the drafting committee for the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act.

Member, Founder Board, Indianapolis Zoological Society
Member, Board of Directors, Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc.
Member, Board of Governors, Child Advocates, Inc.

Bar Committees:
Project Finance and Development Committee, American Bar Association
Former Chair, Business Law Section, Indianapolis Bar Association
Former Member, Board of Managers, Indianapolis Bar Association
Former Member, Board of Trustees, Indianapolis Bar Foundation

Services:

close window